
Director of Manufacturing
Required skills
- hypersonic capability
- Rio Rancho
- solid rocket motor manufacturing
- integration
- test and validation
- HITL
- VITL
- high-precision
- complex aerospace hardware
- metallic fabrication
Nice to have
- high-stakes
- high-reliability environment
- aerospace/defense startups
- decisions under ambiguity
- programmatic/contract demands
- adapt as priorities shift
Role summary
We are seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead our Rio Rancho-based manufacturing operations, focusing on delivering hypersonic capabilities at scale. This pivotal leadership role involves building and leading a world-class manufacturing team of over 250 employees, driving innovation, and achieving operational excellence. Responsibilities include defining and executing scaling strategies for production, recruiting and developing staff, overseeing day-to-day operations, managing budgets, and implementing KPIs. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, 10+ years in production/manufacturing operations, and 5+ years in leadership, with deep understanding of complex aerospace hardware production and scaling operations from prototype to high volume.
Why Castelion, Why Now
Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability.
This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function.
Director of Manufacturing
We're seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead our Rio Rancho based manufacturing operations — our modern Arsenal of Democracy — delivering hypersonic capability at scale to deter future conflicts. In this pivotal leadership role, you will build and lead a world‑class manufacturing operation, pushing for innovation and operational excellence that positions us as the nation's premier hypersonic producer.
Responsibilities
Basic Qualifications
Preferred Skills and Experience
Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply.
Affirmative Action/EEO Statement
Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact hr@castelion.com. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law.
Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.
EAR/ITAR Requirements
This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
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